Campaign for blood donors recruits more than 500 people in Northamptonshire

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Published:17:24Monday 22 June 2015

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More than 500 people in Northamptonshire signed up to be a blood donor in a recent recruitment drive.

The campaign, earlier this month, tied in with National Blood Week and was held to give a boost blood supplies.

Nationwide, more than 30,000 people signed up - 20,000 more than during a previous appeal.

In Northamptonshire, 507 people were recruited in The Missing Type campaign, compared to 149 at the same time last year.

Jon Latham, NHS Blood and Transplant’s assistant director for donor services and marketing, said: “I’d like to say a huge thank you to everybody in Northamptonshire who responded to our ‘Missing Type’ campaign by either helping to spread the word or by signing up to donate.

“We are thrilled that more than 30,000 people across England and North Wales committed to save lives by registering as a blood donor.

“We hope that the thousands of people who registered will now go on to book an appointment and become regular donors and that the organisations who backed the campaign will continue to help us promote blood donation.

“Current stock levels are good so we don’t need new donors to walk in to donate now. If there aren’t any immediate appointments in the area in the next few weeks – don’t worry, book an appointment for the future. We plan our sessions in line with the blood patients need. If you recently signed up we look forward to welcoming you for your first donation.

“We obviously hope you will go on to become regular donors and help us meet patient needs for years to come.

“While we have captured the nation’s imagination with ‘Missing Type’ the job is far from done. In order to ensure we have enough new donors coming forward this year to replace those who can no longer donate and to ensure we have the right mix of blood groups to meet patient needs now and in the future, we need new people to register every day and 204,000 to come forward as new donors this year.

“Giving blood is easy, it doesn’t take long to do and you can help save or improve up to three lives each time you donate.”

If you are 17 or over, visit www.blood.co.uk or call 0300 123 23 23 today to find out if you are eligible to donate, register as a blood donor and to book your appointment.